AB1194 PREVALENCE OF FIBROMYALGIA IN THE RHEUMATOLOGY OPDS DURING COVID19 LOCKDOWN: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
Authors: A. Abogamal, G. Harifi, I. Gamal, A. Alansari, A. Azaam, A. Massri
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2022)

Background In the challenging times of Covid 19, anxiety increased among the general population. Fibromyalgia patients are more at risk of developing anxiety in these difficult times. This might result in more frequent visits to the rheumatology clinics with an exacerbation of their chronic pain syndrome. Objectives The main objective of this study is to compare the prevalence of FM in the rheumatology outpatients’ clinics during the Covid 19 lockdown period (2020) and during the same period in the previous year (2019). Methods A cross-sectional study is conducted through 5 rheumatology clinics located in the 3 biggest emirates of the country (3 in Dubai, 1 in Abu Dhabi and 1 in Sharjah) to detect the number and charachteristics of fibromyalgia from March 15 to May 15 th 2019, and March 15 to May 15 th 2020. Results Total number of patients seen from march to May 2019 was 3480 out of them 55 were fibromyalgia patients with frequency 0.0158%. While from march to May 2020 total number of patients seen were 1355 out of them 66 were fibromyalgia patients with frequency 0.0487%. Figure 1 Figure 1. Total and fibromyalgia patients in March-May 2019 and March-May 2020 Descriptive analysis of fibromyalgia patients seen in the lockdown time March to May 2020 shows that; gender was 64 females 97%, 2 males 3%, profession 36 unemployed 54.5%, 28 white collar 42.4%, 2 blue collar 3%, Age minimum was 25 years, maximum 77 years, with mean 48.3±13 years. Table 1 Table 1. Descriptive analysis of the fibromyalgia paients Gender (Frequency ) Female 64 (97%) Male 2 (3%) Profession (Frequency ) unemployed 36 (54.5%) White collar 28 (42.4) Blue collar 2 (3%) Fibromyalgia severity (Mean±SD ) Tender Points 15.7±3 Pain 6.5±2.1 Fibromyalgia associates (Frequency ) Headache 32 (48.5%) Sleep Disturbance 47 (71.2%) Fatigue 65 (98.5%) IBS 26 (39.4%) Anxiety 43 (65.2%) Depression 37 (56.1%) Tender points were 15.7±3, VAS for pain 6.5±2.1, sleep disturbance was present in 47 patients 71.2%, fatigue 65 patients 98.5%, irritable bowel syndrome in 26 patients 39.4%, headache in 32 patients 48.5%, anxiety in 43 patients 65.2%, and Depression in 37 patients 56.1 %. Comparing frequencies of fibromyalgia between March to May 2019 and 2020 shows a significantly higher frequency of fibromyalgia in March to May 2020, 3.1-fold more than 2019. Conclusion The prevalence of patients with fibromyalgia seen in the Rheumatology clinics significantly increased during the lockdown time in comparison to the same period of 2019. References [1]Elsevier. “Novel Coronavirus Information Center”. Elsevier Connect. Archived from the original on 30 January 2020. [2]Reynolds, Matt (4 March 2020). “What is coronavirus and how close is it to becoming a pandemic?”. Wired UK. ISSN 1357-0978. Archived from the original on 5 March 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2020. [3]Turak, Natasha (29 January 2020). First Middle East cases of coronavirus confirmed in the UAE CNBC.com. Retrieved 19 March 2020. [4]Coronavirus: UAE confirms 294 new cases, 19 recoveries”. Khaleej Times. Retrieved 5 April 2020. [5]Psychological impact of fibromyalgia: current perspectives. GalvezSánchez CM, Duschek S, Reyes Del Paso GA. Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2019 Feb 13;12:117-127. [6]Wolfe F, Smythe HA, Yunus MB, et al. The American College of Rheumatology 1990 criteria for the classification of fibromyalgia: report of the Multicenter Criteria Committee. Arthritis and Rheumatism. 1990;33(2):160–172. [7]Wolfe F, Clauw DJ, Fitzcharles M, et al. The American College of Rheumatology preliminary diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia and measurement of symptom severity. Arthritis Care and Research. 2010;62(5):600–610. Disclosure of Interests None declared